Criminals pay for improved law enforcement service
March 6, 2010
Grand opening of Pinal County Sheriff's substation
Pinal_County, Ariz. – While some valley
Police agencies are laying off Cops and cutting back on service - one Arizona Sheriff’s
Office has improved response times to emergencies, offered additional staff training
and purchased millions in new radios, ballistic vests, computers and even a $320,000
DUI enforcement van.
Sheriff Paul Babeu is well known for helping the statewide fight to end Photo Radar
enforcement in Arizona, yet his leadership team has quietly implemented internal
operational reforms that have resulted in improved law enforcement for Pinal County
families.
Emergency response times have improved by 2.5 minutes, nearly every patrol car has
a new computer and GPS monitoring to allow for field report writing and efficient
dispatching. A DUI Task was created with local Police Departments and in less than
one year achieved top tier ranking of 3rd place out of all 16 DUI task forces in
Arizona.
This weekend, Sheriff Paul will cut the ribbon for a brand new 2,900 sq. ft. substation
in the fast growing unincorporated area San Tan Valley – where the population is
believed to top 85,000 residents. The price tag is $150,000.00 dollars and the Sheriff
is making criminals pay for it. The cost to renovate the facility, new furniture,
equipment and lease cost is covered by the proceeds of seized criminal assets (RICO
funds) from local drug dealers and smugglers.
The Sheriff says this is just the beginning. Four months ago, the Pinal County Sheriff’s
Narcotics Task Force joined with the DEA and the Attorney General’s Office to take
down an entire Drug Trade Organization (DTO) in Casa Grande and Arizona City. Thirty
three suspects were either arrested or felony warrants issued. Nearly 40 cars, $500,000.00
in cash, numerous bank accounts, custom homes and 3,500 lbs in marijuana were seized.
If the Sheriff and Attorney General’s Office prove that these assets were the byproduct
of criminal racketeering – the nearly $30,000,000.00 in assessed proceeds get forfeited
to the Sheriff and participating agencies.
San Tan Valley Substation
Budget reductions combined with an increase in crime and population growth usually
results in reduced service. But not in Pinal County. A new grant administrator has
yielded federal and state grants totaling $7,000,000.00, which couldn’t have come
at a better time. The majority of citizens live in unincorporated areas of Pinal
County, which has only 1 Deputy per 1,000 residents – less than 50% the normal police
staffing in Arizona. The population continues to grow at the fastest rate of any
Arizona county and boasts the 2nd fastest growth in all of America.
Sheriff Paul Babeu said, “We are winning the fight in Pinal County. Crime does not
pay, yet we’re making criminals pay for our expanded law enforcement protection.
Human and drug smugglers who come into Pinal County shall be arrested and we shall
take their cash, drugs, vehicles and houses. They will pay for their crimes and
we’ll use their assets to expand service to better protect our Pinal families.”
Sheriff Babeu serves as President of the Arizona Sheriff’s Association. He has 20
yrs service in the military and currently holds the rank of Major in the Arizona
Army National Guard. He has served a combat tour in Iraq and commanded Task Force
Yuma to secure the Arizona/Mexican border.
Pinal County Sheriff's substation
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